Charity run to end FGM between Headingly and Old Trafford

Despite only taking up running 18 months ago Jules Farman is about to take on a 60 mile run over the Pennines between Leeds and Manchester in 2.5 days to raise awareness about FGM.

Jules, aged 32 from Dunstable, is a volunteer for the HIV/AIDS and FGM Awareness Charity, Cricket Without Boundaries. The Roses Run to #endFGM will see Jules setting off from Headingley at the end of the Roses Specsavers County Championship match between Yorkshire and Lancashire on Wednesday 1 June. She is aiming to reach the Emirates Old Trafford - 60 miles from Headingley - just 2.5 days later, in time for the t20 Blast match between the two big rival counties on Friday evening 3rd June.

Jules Farman, said: "The Roses Run will be a challenge, but compared to the 3 million women and girls who are at risk of FGM - alongside the 140 million who have survived the cut worldwide - they are the ones we need to help and support as they face the toughest challenge of all.

"I hope the Roses Run raises awareness of FGM and the global nature of the problem. This is something we all work together on to end its practice."

Hannah Weaver, FGM Programme Leader at Cricket Without Boundaries, said: "Jules has been one of the key volunteers helping to push forward our FGM programme. She is one determined lady and this run, to raise awareness and fundraise for an ambassador in the Laikipia region is incredible. I am privileged to have worked alongside Jules in Kenya last year and cannot wait to continue our work again in June."

Kay Floyd, Community Project Officer for the LCCC Foundation said: “The charity run Jules is taking on will be very challenging and is a great way to raise funds to help make young people in Kenya aware of FGM which has been a cultural practise for over 2000 years. Myself and the rest of the Foundation team will be at Emirates Old Trafford cheering Jules along for the final steps of her amazing journey.

"We are proud to partner up with Cricket Without Boundaries, helping to fund the development and delivery of the new anti-FGM project, both in Kenya and closer to home in targeted communities of Trafford. We will be able to combine our expertise using cricket as a vehicle to make a real difference to the lives of young females identified as at risk."

Money raised from the Roses Run to #endFGM will be used to sponsor a full-time Kenyan cricket coach who will use sport as a way of delivering gender equality and anti-FGM messages to the Maasai community in Kenya.

For more information about Jules's #Rosesrun, how you can sponsor her, or even join her along the route, please Jules' blog.